Perched on the fall line of the Coastal Plain, the City of Emporia has historically
been a commercial hub in Southside Virginia. The area along the Meherrin River was
first explored in 1670. The Town of Hicksford was settled in 1710 where the Fort
Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Meherrin River en route to Fort Christianna.
The Town of Belfield was established in 1798 on the north bank of the river. The
two Greensville County towns merged in 1887 to form Emporia, which was chartered
as a City in 1967.
Once strategically located on an important north-south Confederate States railroad
and supply line, Emporia today has a similar advantage of another transportation
crossroads: Interstate 95 and US 58. The City is an ideal stop-over point for thousands
of travelers on Interstate 95, as well for those heading to the coast on US 58.
Much of the local retail economy is therefore strongly tied to the travel industry.
It has recently ranked among the top five cities in the nation for retail
sales per capita.
Emporia is also at the crossroads of two key railroads, CSX running north-to-south
and Norfolk-Southern going east-to-west. The accessibility to major rail and highway
routes contributes to a growing industrial base. The growth of the industrial base
in Emporia and surrounding
Greensville County
in recent years has helped solidify a low unemployment rate.
Like the rest of Virginia, the city is also rich in history. The recently renovated
1781 Greensville County Courthouse, located in the 300 block of South Main Street
is the focal point of downtown Emporia. One block east of South Main Street is
Village View (ca. 1795), a federal style home with significance in the War Between
the States. Directions to tours of these and other historic sites and markers can
be arranged at the Greensville-Emporia Historical Museum at 419 S. Main Street or
through the
Chamber of Commerce.
Emporia is home to several festivals and events that also make it the cultural hub
of the region. Each year the
Meherrin River Arts Council
lines up an impressive list of performers, which in the past has included
Ray Price, Kathy Mattea with the Richmond Symphony, Melissa Manchester, Lou
Rawls, Ronnie Milsap, Diane
Schurr, Jack Jones with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Manhattan Transfer,
Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick, Shirley Jones, Johnny Matthis, Roger Williams,
the
Platters, the Richmond Ballet, Roy Clark, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme with the
Richmond Symphony, and Crystal Gayle. The 2002 line-up features the Richmond
Symphony, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Lettermen with the Virginia Beach Symphony.
Since 1974, the Virginia Pork
Festival has been a major attraction to Emporia. 15,000 people partake in 20
tons of pork served 30 different ways each year on the second Wednesday in June.
The Great Peanut Tour
draws 1,500 annually to bike various routes of 13 to 125 miles in length from Thursday
through Saturday after Labor Day. The Virginia Peanut Festival draws 12,000 to the
City each year during the last weekend in September for the Parade, Fireworks, Car
Show, carnival, and craft fair.
The City of Emporia (pop. 5,700) is the southern gateway to Virginia. Just 8 miles
from the North Carolina line, it is the first municipality on I-95 heading into
Virginia. Emporia is an hour's drive (65 miles) from the Capital City of Richmond,
three hours' drive (180 miles) from the Nation's Capital, Washington, D.C., and
strategically "mid-way
between the Big Apple and Disney world.
Greensville County is generally at the intersection of I-95 and U.S. Route 58 in
the Commonwealth of Virginia. Greensville County is situated in the Piedmont
and the Tidewater Regions. Greensville County is bound on the south by Northampton
County, NC and Halifax County, NC, north bySussex and Dinwiddie Counties,
west by Brunswick County, and east by Southampton County. The County
is located approximately 65 miles south of Richmond, the State Capitol, and 80 miles
west of Norfolk and the Ports of Hampton Roads on the Atlantic Coast. Washington,
D.C. is 168 miles north, New York City is 410 miles north, and Atlanta, Georgia
is 528 miles southwest.
Our central location along the eastern seaboard of the United States between
Raleigh, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, places Greensville County within a day's
drive of over
50 metropolitan
areas and nearly two-thirds of the United States population. Our location at
the crossroads of I-95 and U.S. Route 58 provides prime access to the eastern
part of the United States.
More than 11,873 people call Greensville County home, but because of our location,
relative to the excellent road and highways, the area effectively draws in labor
and customers from a much larger region -- serving a potential
population of nearly 147,000
people. The Greensville County landscape, location, and market area are some
of the factors businesses and industries find attractive.
The Town of Emporia was chartered as the City of the Second Class
by an act of the General Assembly on July 31, 1967. At this time, it became a separate
political entity from Greensville County. The Town of Jarratt, located in northern
Greensville County and partly located in southern Sussex County, was incorporated
by order of the Circuit Court of Sussex County on June 20, 1938.